Prevalence and fertility Status of hydatid cysts in Sheep and Goats slaughtered in selected abattoirs in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Hydatidosis is one of the neglected zoonotic diseases of unrecognised importance that is caused by the dog tapeworm of the
genus Echinococcus. A study on the prevalence and fertility of hydatid cysts was conducted in sheep and goats slaughtered in
some abattoirs in Adamawa State, Nigeria. A total of 1,603 animals comprising 760 sheep and 843 goats were examined for
hydatid cysts by visual inspection, palpation and incision. A total of 31 (1.93%) of the study population harboured hydatid
cysts, comprising 72 hydatid cysts in 13 (1.71%) sheep and 116 hydatid cysts in 18 (2.14%) goats. There was no significant
difference (p>0.05) in prevalence of hydatid cyst infection among sheep and goats. Age –specific prevalence of hydatid cysts
was higher in goats 18(2.1%) than Sheep 13(1.7%), goats and sheep that were >3years old recorded highest prevalence
(3.25%; 2.32%). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in prevalence of cysts in different age groups. Prevalence of
cysts was higher in female sheep (1.96%) and goats (2.98%) than male sheep (1.49%) and goats (1.66%), the difference was
not statistically significant (p>0.05). The number of hydatid cysts recovered in infected sheep was 72(25.0% fertile, 31.9%
sterile and 43.0% calcified cysts) and 116 (47.4% fertile, 15.5% sterile and 25.9% calcified cysts) in goats. Highest number of
fertile cysts were recovered in lungs of sheep and goats (41.7%; 83.7%) than in their liver ( 16.7%; 37.8%). The difference
was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The most commonly infected organ was liver (66.7%) in sheep and lungs (68.1%)
in goats. In conclusion, fertility of cysts in sheep and goats may serve as a potential source of transmission of hydatidosis to
dogs and continuation of its lifecycle. Strict regulation of slaughtering process including proper disposal of infected offal
would minimize transmission of cysts from intermediate to definitive hosts.

Keywords: Prevalence, Hydatid cysts, fertility, Sheep, Goat, Adamawa State